Las Vegas | Adventures On the Road

It’s All in the Eyes

9 01 2016

We spent some time in Las Vegas over the holidays, and even though we didn’t spend a cent in the casinos, I felt like we made the most of what Las Vegas had to offer.

For the first time in a long time we stayed at a hotel on the strip, we found what I think was the only empty bar in Las Vegas (which was weird), we wined and dined on a four course meal and became best friends with our server Sam – who treated us to a delicious nutella creme brûlée. And the very highlight of our trip, the one thing that I had wanted to do for a long time was visit the big cats at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage.

Yes, on the surface, the experience can seem like you’re just watching lions and tigers in enclosures through fencing pace back and forth…and it did make me a little sad when they would just pace back and forth. But, once I started taking photos with our zoom lens, and I could capture a glimpse of these beautiful creatures without the grid fencing, it was magical.

This was a rare case when the photos after the fact, became so much more than the real experience – a chance to relive watching 4 month old sister tiger cubs play and pounce with each other, to revel in the details of their big paws and pink noses and to look into their watchful eyes.

And because I chose the right guy for me, he knew that no casino, chocolate shop, bar or show would give me more pleasure than making a second visit to see the big cats.

And because my guy chose the right girl, the next day, we spent the day watching football at a Sports Bar.

And that ends our perfect 24 hours in Las Vegas.

Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: Animals, Photography, Sightseeing, Travel
Categories : Las Vegas, Uncategorized

19 Hours to Seattle

25 01 2014

On second thought….perhaps we do know the difference between a leisurely road trip and getting there as fast as we can. It took us 5 days to drive from Seattle, WA to Parker, AZ. On our way back home, we left Las Vegas, NV Saturday morning and were unloading the car at home by 12PM on Sunday.

Rather than coastal scenic byways we took the desolate highways through Nevada, Idaho and Oregon. It felt like we had the roads to ourselves at times, and I admit that I kind of loved that (as long as we have all the gas we need).

We left Vegas in the darkness of early morning and as we drove through the desert we watched the sun come up and the sky turn pink and purple.

You don’t really think of Nevada having a very diverse landscape, but we saw desert with joshua trees, Texas Canyon like boulders, and big blue skies with puffy clouds and snow capped mountains.

We passed the 1000 Springs Waterfalls in Idaho, some of which were frozen water statues against the cliffs and saw a whole flock of migrating birds.

By the time we reached Washington State the camera was about to die. The night before I asked Nathan – should I charge the battery? Is there anything to see and take photos of? His answer: Nope, not much to see. We stopped in Ontario, OR and after an early dinner and bedtime, prepared for a 4:30AM wake up. Now, we thought we were in the Pacific timezone, until that is, we got to the car and were greeted by this:

I turned to Nathan and said, “what time did you wake me up??? 3:30AM?” In the end it worked out – yes an early wake up call, but the morning and rest of the day seemed like it went on forreeevvverrrrr.

I think we both forgot how beautiful Washington is when the sun is out. We watched the sunrise and drove through the rolling hills of Washington’s wine country.

And when we were within an hour of the house – low and behold, we found a Winter Wonderland.

Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: Nature, Photography, Roadtrip, Sightseeing, Travel, Westcoast
Categories : Las Vegas, Nevada, Oregon, Washington

From Beach to Desert to Bright Lights

17 01 2014

Good Morning Sunshine!

After 3 days of (almost) non-stop driving with most mornings spent waking up hours before the sun decided to show its face, it was heavenly to wake up after the sun came up. And better than that – this was the view from our hotel room at Mandalay Beach in Oxnard, CA.

Breakfast with the locals, a walk on the beach chasing sand pipers and skirting the waves. It may look warm and balmy but that water is still shockingly cold on the toes.

An afternoon soaking in the hot tub, an after-soak nap and watching the sun ease its way down beyond the horizon after the end of a relaxing day. Can’t get better than that.

From sand and surf to desert and burros – and it only took 5 hours!

Check out those fuzzy bangs!

Mom & Baby # 2

Two days after strolling the beach – Vegas….

From the Vdara Hotel – a view of the Vegas Strip and the Bellagio Fountain Show

And to enjoy the different side of Vegas – Old Vegas….and the Fremont Street Experience.

Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: California, Lake Havasu City, Nature, Photography, Random Life, Sightseeing, Travel, Westcoast
Categories : Arizona, AZ, California, Lake Havasu City, Las Vegas, Parker

Just like Rules…Routines are Meant to be Broken!

2 04 2013

There is something comforting and familiar about routine. I’ve spent the last few weeks establishing a pretty good rhythm of learning spanish, working out, knocking out puzzle after puzzle, doing a little bit of work, and of course…. stalking seal pups. But just like rules, routines are meant to be broken. And it was definitely time to shake up the grey, drizzly weather of Seattle.

So off to Vegas I go, for sunshine and Vitamin D, and some much needed quality time with Nathan. As I landed in Vegas, seeing the sun glinting off the Mandalay Bay, I thought, ‘finally. Some sunshine. I can’t wait to feel that warmth on my face!’. But as we’re used to in the Pacific NW – sunshine does not mean warm! It was still cold with the wind whipping my hair around me. And, I took a look at the weather forecast in Seattle, and wouldn’t you know – sunshine….every day and 60+ degrees, which in Seattle terms = heat wave.

Well nothing knocks out the routine like landing in Vegas and seeing a car hauler driving down the road, and knowing that that’s your ride. A strange thing to see a big truck and know that that type of vehicle is your most familiar mode of transportation criss crossing around the country.

Nothing normal about the week that we just had. We spent the weekend hanging out with some of the feistiest, sassiest women I have ever met. Yes, they were in their 70’s but you would think you were watching the antics of the best of friends in the early years of university (before that last year when you start panicking that you need to figure out what you’re doing with your life). It was so great to see all that energy and craziness.

We started the week drinking Landshark and soaking up some rays puttering around Lake Havasu.

Landshark Spokesman

But once we hit the road it was a blur of saguaro cacti reaching out their arms in strange angles in the desert as we passed through Arizona. On a side note: I just started reading ‘The Host’ by Stephanie Meyers and we drove past Picacho Peak – what a coincidence!

Wednesday morning was a 2am wake up call in Deming, New Mexico and watching the sun come up over the hillside early in the long drive through Texas.

Texas Sunrise in ‘the middle of nowhere TX’

It seems crazy that you can drive all day and still be in the same state. Aside from the sparse sightings of Texas Blue Bonnets, the highlight of my day – I swear I saw a zebra eating hay in the Texas hill country. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

And just when you think that you’ll never, ever, get out of Texas, we hit the bayous in Louisiana, crossed over the 16 mile bridge over Lake Pontchartrain and made our way into Alabama.

Finally…finally, we found ourselves driving through the dark outskirts of Jacksonville, FL and wound our way to the oceanside at Jacksonville (Jax) Beach. Three days and 2200 miles later, we finally found our landing spot for some much needed R&R.

Such a different week than the ones I’ve spent the last few months, but strangely enough, I can’t say that it’s a week that I haven’t had before, or one that I’m sure to have again. Funny to see what becomes ‘normal’ over the years.

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Lake Havasu City, Nature, Random Life, Sightseeing, Travel
Categories : Arizona, Lake Havasu City, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Texas

The Hoover Dam!

4 02 2013

Can’t help but think about the Transformers movie and the fact that the All Spark is hidden under the depths of the concrete and water every time I’m at the Hoover Dam. But other than thinking about Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee while I’m taking in the sites, you have to admit, it is a pretty cool place to see. And of course, everyone gets a kick out of being right on the border lines of Arizona and Nevada, and experiencing two time zones at one time.

The new bridge: You can’t see anything unless you park and walk the bridge or you’re in a truck!

Setting up an instagram shot…as per usual

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Tags: Sightseeing, Travel
Categories : Arizona, AZ, Las Vegas

On the Road Again

5 04 2011

Part of the job of traveling so much is to really take advantage of the travel and to pay attention to the surroundings. There’s nothing worse than saying that you spent the last couple days, weeks, months, years traveling and you didn’t really see that much. There’s ALWAYS something to see. Whether it’s a woman coming out of the bushes and trolling for cigarettes at a truck stop (and then fading back into the bushes) or snow covered mountains within 20 minutes of the desert floor. I admit that even the sight of some puffy white clouds amidst a vibrant blue sky in the driver side mirror has caught my attention.

Here are a couple of photos of things I came across from Las Vegas to Atlanta.

Most notable is the Cadillac Ranch or Cadillac Graveyard that you can see driving through Amarillo, TX. It’s a public art installation from 1974 of 10 Cadillacs buried nose first into the ground.

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Tags: Travel
Categories : Las Vegas, Texas

A Little Splash of Colour

2 03 2011

I think I may be obsessed with french macaroons. It started about a year and a half ago during a trip to Vegas at the Paris buffet. At that time I thought they were these cute little jam filled meringues that I loved so much that I stuffed a few in a napkin and hid them in my purse. An occasion that I am stilled mocked and teased about.

The obsession continued in St. Martin where I just had to buy a box of french macaroons and then was forced to scarf them down in the security line up since they were deemed contraband by the cruiseline.

And finally in downtown LA at a cute restaurant and gourmet market called Bottega Louie, where they had a rainbow of different colours and unique flavours like Chai, Rose and Earl Grey.

On a side note, I have also become obsessed with this new photo editing technique. In addition to my french macaroon photos, here are some photos from Arizona.

Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: Food, Photography
Categories : Arizona, Las Vegas, Los Angeles

Cherry – Bar – Bar

8 11 2010

I’m not at all embarrassed to admit that I may have yelled out, “The Lee’s are in the house!” at 2AM in a Vegas casino. What else is there to do when you’re sitting with your brother and his girlfriend at the penny slots and ding ding ding ding ding ding….the lights are going off right, left, and center. Jami (James) and I are killing it! While unfortunately Sarah squandered her fortune ($5)….sorry Sarah.

But when I hit a CHERRY – BAR – BAR… Well everyone knows what happens when you hit the CHERRY – BAR – BAR with a TRIPLE DIAMOND!!. That’s right! Winner Winner Winner! We all had to stop and pause while my winnings kept adding up. And when you’re at a 2 cent machine, the pennies can take a long time to accumulate.

Like any smart slot player, I immediately cashed out.

But as I sat watching my brother play (and win), I couldn’t help it. I slipped that ticket back in the machine….and I’m back in the game!

BAR – BAR – CHERRY! Wait a minute, how come that doesn’t mean anything? 7 – 7 – CHERRY! Surely that has to be a winner! Why don’t these combinations mean anything? As Jami cashed out his winnings, I couldn’t help but feel like my win was just one press of the button away. Until…I had to accept the inevitable. I quit while I was ahead, and left the slots, licking my wounds. Not to worry, VEGAS didn’t take my fortunes away! I left the casino with my winnings – 64 cents!

To keep our monies in our pocket, we all distracted ourselves with other Vegas entertainment – Love: The Beatles Cirque du Soleil, the Bellagio buffet, dinner at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris, champagne toasts in the hotel suite at sunset, and walking the strip hand in hand.

My will power is weak and while waiting to go into the Love theatre I thought I’d try my hand at a 25 cent slot machine. I don’t think I’ve ever lost money faster than I did in this moment.

And so, the truth comes out. I leave Vegas, MINUS $19.36. I shake my fists of fury! LAS VEGAS, YOU WIN AGAIN!!!

Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags: Family
Categories : Las Vegas

Ding Dong….Ding Dong…

4 11 2010

The wedding bells chimed on October 24th, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.

I’m sure it’s true that the wedding bells chime in Vegas every day, at all times of the day, especially around ‘Last Call’. Oh wait, there is no ‘Last Call’.

But this time, there were 10 very special witnesses to these wedding bells. And I was one of them!

MY SISTER GOT MARRIED!!!

It was a beautiful garden ceremony with little white lights casting a romantic glow on the festivities. I led the way, bouquet in hand, and my sister walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of Bittersweet Symphony.

People have all sorts of opinions about Vegas – place for a fun friend’s weekend, the ‘black hole’ that stole all your money, THE place to get into trouble during a stag/staggette party – but it truly was the perfect place for a picturesque wedding. Take a walk and you can be in Paris, NYC and Italy, all in the same night.

It was a great weekend for our two families to join together and share experiences with great laughs, tasty food, fun entertainment and the ‘ting ting ting’ of the slot machine win (well, some of us won).

Congratulations Nicki & Justin!

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Family
Categories : Las Vegas

Hot OR Cold

13 03 2010

I’m way behind on my posts but I wanted to take the time to show off some photos from our trip to Las Vegas in February.

Normally you think Las Vegas and you think “The Strip” – bright lights, vegas show girls, constant casino lights and bells, an unhealthy addiction to slot machines and at least one bachelor/bachelorette party that you just happen to stumble upon.

This time while we were in Vegas we did everything we could to avoid spending time on the Strip. Instead we took the opportunity to enjoy some offbeat day trips.

Hot or Cold?

That was the deciding factor on our day trips.

HOT: A trip riding down to Hoover Dam and Willow Beach in a convertible with the top down